Technological concepts
Saga
Commonwealth
The saga begins in 2380. Humanity has developed wormhole technology and is able to travel at super-light speeds. In this, the series differs from Hamilton's other works. At the beginning of the story, people travel between planets only through wormholes, most often by train. This method is common, equivalent to commuting by suburban trains, and connects hundreds of planets. Only a few colonies that decided to break away from the community broke the connection through wormholes.
All wormhole transport is operated by an intergalactic corporation KKP (Space Compression), co - owned by the inventors of wormholes - a capable trader and ingenious inventor who has been uniting friendships since only two students were passionate about new technologies.
If you think you've read something similar on wikipedia, you don't think so. It's there because we told Paul Cramley to put it there.
Your VI
Longevity
Saga
Commonwealth
In the Community, death may be postponed indefinitely. Most citizens have a memory article (it was invented in book Misspent Youth) with an advance of his personality. The article stores all the memories stored in brain memory, including those acquired before the insertion of the article.
Community citizens undergo a rejuvenation process every 30 to 50 years (also invented in Misspent Youth). Rejuvenation is an intense physical regeneration that results in a 20-year-old body plus the implementation of improvements according to personal preferences.
In addition to memory articles that allow a complete reconstruction of a person's personality, there is the possibility of uploading the contents of the article to a safe storage facility in specialized clinics. IN in the event of a fatal accident or unexpected death, a clone of the person concerned is created and the personality is recorded from this secure storage. If the memory article is intact, all memories will be recorded, including the horrific and painful experience of death itself. It is a complete recovery process that makes memory article owners virtually immortal. Although still at risk of complete body loss, the memory cell and secure storage allow for a smooth transition between "death" and the rest of life.
Not all Community citizens are equipped with memory cells. For example, they were rejected by the Identity Rangers community on the planet Remote.
The rejuvenation process is a relatively costly affair. Community citizens will save on it throughout its life cycle, about 50 years, that's about it about the equivalent of pension insurance. Rejuvenation is like starting a whole new life, some people in their second and later lives tend to get rid of responsibility for their past lives, change jobs and create new relationships. It is even possible to modify memories to make the transition to a new life as easy as possible.
"People are practically immortal today."
Symbiosis of people and machines
Saga
Commonwealth
Implants that bring various improvements to humans are widely used in the Community, and most people have them at their disposal. The most common equipment is a memory cell. Another standard implant allows direct access to unisphere - interstellar computer networks. This system uses wormholes to exchange data between the worlds of the community. Each planet creates its own a cybersphere that is connected to everyone else cybersphere planets, and thus creates unisphere.
An important technological device is OOtattooing. It resembles a classic tattoo in color, it is also created using a similar technique and creates colored, often metallic shapes, on the skin. Its main function is to act as a processor for other implants. if it is OOtattooing damaged by mechanical intervention, some implants may operate at reduced capacity.
Non-standard bioneural implants are in demand and illegal, introduced by private clinics within the black market. It is used, among other things, to install weapon systems directly into the body, to create personal force fields, special abilities to receive and send highly encrypted messages, and many other skills. An important user of illegal implants is Gore Burnelli, head of the clan and influential man of the community; his skin all over his body shines uncovered with gold metal.
"People are practically immortal today."
Aliens
Saga
Commonwealth
As it expanded into the galaxy, humanity encountered several extraterrestrial species. The most prominent of they are Silphen, reminiscent of elves and demons from ancient human myths and fairy tales. They avoid all technological conveniences, as well as politics and participation in Community events. However, they move freely through galaxies on secret pathways that connect distant planets - the Silfen Paths, the equivalent of wormholes.
The entity of extraterrestrial origin is also the Sovereign Angel, a spaceship controlled by its own intelligence. It acts as a home for several colonies of different species and races, from most of which stay away from people. The exception is the Raiel, large, somewhat smug creatures, but ingenious mathematicians able to perform the most complex calculations.
WITH none of of these species, humanity is not in dispute, but it will not get help.
Conscious intelligence
Saga
Commonwealth
Mankind has created a conscious intelligence, abbreviated VI, which exists on its own and is present on one planet it has reserved for itself. IN during difficult times, it offers people only limited help, and only where it deems it appropriate. About her motivation for nothing is known about the deeds. The only connection with Planet VI is a red wormhole with zero width that only data can pass through. Perhaps for this isolation, the VI tends to contact those who can offer it unique information from the community, and provide it in exchange for some kindness. These benefits range from ensuring security, through monitoring communications in cyberspheres of the planets, after aid control by the physical world.
VI is also the sum of all the people who have recorded their personality into a common shared virtual existence. Some characters have access to due to the presence of a "deceased" relative who is part of VI higher level of information through better technologies. In return, they provide the VI with information to which it does not have access.
"At VI, one never knew if he will add, or he will just watch nonchalantly. "